Chair



W. E. KIDDER CHAIR Filed March 4, 1922 INVENTOR. William fiK/dderATTORNEYS Patented (let. 2%, 1925..

UNIT-ED "sures WILLIAM E. KIDDER, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

CHAIR.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 540,993.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. Kinnnn, acitizen of the United States. residing at the city and county ofKalamazoo, State of hlichigan. have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved chair seator back particularly adapted for use on folding chairs which is light inweight and permit-s the use of inexpensive materials and at the SHIV-8time is very strong and durable.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means descrbed in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined andpointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing: forming a partof thisapplication. in which:

Fig. I is a front perspective view of a folding chair embodying thefeatures of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section through the seat on a linecorresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. I.

Fig. II is a vertical section from front to rear on a linecorresponding; to line 2 2 of Fig. II.

Fig. III is a front perspective view of another embodiment of myinvention, the lower portion of the chair being broken away.

Fig. IV is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 44l. ofFig. III, showing structural details.

In the drawing; similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing. the legs 1 and Q, are pivoted at 3 to becollapsed. The legs 1 are extended into side bars 4 supporting the back.designated generally by the numeral 5. The seat. designated generally bythe numeral 6. is. pivoted to the,

upper odds of the legs 2 and is connected to the legs 1 to permit thefolding of the These features form no part of this invention and aretherefore, not detailed herein.

The seat 6 comprises a rectangular frame made up of a front member 7rear member 8 and side members 9. The front and rear members haveopposed grooves 10 in their inner edges in which the ends of the bottomfilling 11 are loosely arranged. This bottom fillingis supported by thecentrally disposed cross rod 12 having its ends dis posed in bores 13 inthe side pieces 9 of the frame so that the filling is centrallysupported without interfering with independent movement. The rod 12 isformed of wire so that it may yield slightly under pressure and also sothat. the rame members are not materially weakened by the bores 13 intowhich the ends of the rod project. lVith this arrangement the filling);11 may be made of comparatively poor or brash material and at the sametime is elfectively supported by the rod so that there is very littledanger of breakage in use.

In the embodiment of my improvements shown in Figs. Ill and IV the seatframe members are all provided with grooves 14L on their inner edges andbottom panel 15 of fibre board or thin veneer is disposed with its edgesin these grooves, the panel being supported by one or more of the rods12. A pair of the rods is shown in Fig. III.

My improvements enable the employment of r-onrpnratively light materialboth in the frame and bottom of the seat or back and at the same timethe structure is strong enough to support heavy loads and withstandsevere strain.

I have illustrated my improvements in two embodiments which I have foundvery practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe othermodifications or adaptations or to illustrate various types of chairs towhich they are adapted as I believe the embodiments illustrated will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embody oradapt the same as may be desired.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A chair seat or back comprising a rectangular frame provided withopposed side members having grooved inner edges and opposed side membershaving. bores in their 1., filling comprising a plurality 01" slatshaving their ends loosely engaged in said grooves, and a resilientsupporting rod disposed transversely below said slats with its endsloosely engaged in said bores and yieldingly supporting said slats.

2. A chair seat or back comprising a frame provided with opposed membershaving grooved inner edges, and opposed members having opposed bores intheir inner edges, :1 filling having its ends loosely en- 10 gagod insaid grooves, and a resilient supporting rod disposed below said fillingwith its ends loosely engaged in said loores and yieldingi) supportingsaid filling.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 my hand and seal.

KVILLIAM E. KIDDER. [n s]

